Lost and Found: Caroline Topperman on Family, Identity, and the Search for Home

The Not Old Better Show, Family History, Genealogy Interview Series

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast. Today’s show is brought to you by Acorns. The Not Old Better Show. Acorns. ..I’Acorns makes it easy for everyone to start saving and investing

What does it mean to belong? Is home a place, a language, a history—or something else entirely?

Caroline Topperman thought she knew. She grew up speaking Polish, knowing her family’s deep roots in the country, and believing that moving there with her husband would feel like coming home. But instead of familiarity, she found disconnection. Instead of certainty, she found questions. The result of that search is her stunning new book, Your Roots Cast a Shadow: One Family’s Search Across History for Belonging.

Caroline’s story is not just about her journey—it’s about the generations before her who crossed borders and survived wars, about ancestors who built roads in Afghanistan, fought political battles in Poland, and escaped the horrors of World War II. It’s about what gets passed down through family stories, and what gets lost in translation.

She uncovered letters, documents, and even an entire book her grandfather wrote—one referenced in The Holocaust Museum and Stanford’s Hoover Institution. But she also found the gaps, the missing voices, the untold truths. And through it all, she wrestled with a question so many of us face: Do we ever truly find a home, or do we create it?

This is an unforgettable conversation about identity, history, and the invisible ties that connect us to our past. If you’ve ever wondered how much of your family’s story shapes who you are today, this episode is for you.

Let’s welcome to The Not Old – Better Show, writer, entrepreneur, and world traveler, Caroline Topperman.

And now, your host, the award-winning Paul Vogelzang.

My thanks to Acorns for sponsoring today’s episode. Acorns. Acorns makes it easy for everyone to start saving and investing—my thanks to Caroline Topperman

and her time and patience and willingness to answer our questions. My thanks to you our wonderful audience here on radio and podcast. Be well, be safe, and Let’s Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on radio and podcast. Thanks, everybody, and we’ll see you next week.

The Aerobiome: An Invisible Ecosystem - Smithsonian Associate Carl Zimmer

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

Today on The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates series, we welcome award-winning science writer and New York Times columnist Carl Zimmer—author of Airborne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe, available at Apple Books.

With every breath we take—more than 20,000 each day—we draw in not just oxygen, but thousands of invisible organisms: fungi, bacteria, pollen, even algae. This unseen ecosystem, the aerobiome, surrounds us every moment, yet until recently, it was barely studied.

Smithsonian Associate Carl Zimmer will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up so please check out our show notes for more details on Carl Zimmer and this presentation titled: The Aerobiome: An Invisible Ecosystem

Smithsonian Associate Carl Zimmer has written 15 books about science, taught at Yale, and contributed to National Geographic, The Atlantic, and Scientific American. His new book blends storytelling, history, and cutting-edge science to reveal how we’ve misunderstood the air—and how that misunderstanding shaped our response to COVID-19, climate change, and more.

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really in the air around you—or how the past might have protected us better—this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

That was science author Carl Zimmer, joining us today on The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates series, with stories from his new book Airborne: The Hidden History of the Life We Breathe, available at Apple Books. Smithsonian Associate Carl Zimmer will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up so please check out our show notes for more details on Carl Zimmer and this presentation titled: The Aerobiome: An Invisible Ecosystem. My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show. My thanks to you, our wonderful audience on radio and podcast. Be well, be safe, Let’s Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show, Smithsoninan Associates Interview Series on radio and podcast.

To listen to more inspiring conversations like this one—from scientists, historians, artists, and beyond—check out our full back catalog at notold-better.com.

You can also follow us on social media: we’re on Twitter @notoldbetter and on Instagram at notoldbetter.

This is a production of N.O.B.S. Studios. I’m Paul Vogelzang—thank you for spending time with us today, and I hope you’ll join me again next time.

Welcome back to The Not Old – Better Show! I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang, and today, we’re talking about turning clutter into cash, attic junk into treasures, and maybe—just maybe—your next garage sale into a goldmine.

Think about it—how many of us have boxes of old collectibles, furniture gathering dust, or a closet filled with clothes we haven’t worn in a decade? Downsizing and decluttering can feel overwhelming, but what if I told you that hidden in those stacks of “stuff” could be real money—thousands of dollars just waiting to be uncovered?

Well, today’s guest knows exactly how to find it. Aaron LaPedis, better known as The Garage Sale Millionaire, made his first deal at age nine, flipping baseball cards and coins. By 21, he was a self-made millionaire—all from garage sales, storage auctions, and resale finds. He’s spent the past 40 years uncovering hidden gems, dodging scams, and teaching everyday people how to cash in on forgotten treasures.

Aaron’s going to reveal the biggest mistakes people make when selling their stuff, the top five things in your home right now that could be worth serious money, and how to master the art of negotiation—whether in person or online. We’ll even get into the wild world of storage unit auctions—do they live up to the TV hype?

If you’ve ever thought about downsizing, decluttering, or making extra income in retirement, this episode is for you. So grab a pen, take notes, and get ready to see your garage, attic, and even your junk drawer in a whole new light.

Now, let’s welcome to the show—The Garage Sale Millionaire himself, Aaron LaPedis!

The Balanced Brain with Smithsonian Associate Dr. Camilla Nord

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show—Smithsonian Associates Interview Series. I’m Paul Vogelzang, and today, as part of our Inside Science interview series, we’re diving deep into the most powerful organ you possess: your brain.

Think about this for a moment: what if your brain isn’t broken, but simply trying to regain balance in a world that constantly throws it off-kilter? What if pleasure, pain, memory, and mood—all the things that make you you—are less about mystery and more about biology?

Today, we’re joined by the brilliant Smithsonian Associate Dr. Camilla Nord, neuroscientist at the University of Cambridge and author of the groundbreaking new book, available at Apple Books, The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health. Smithsonian Associate Dr. Camilla Nord will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up, and the title of her presentation is The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health. Please check out our show notes today for more details about Dr. Nord’s upcoming Smithsonian Associates presnentation. But we havec Dr. Camilla Nord today and in this riveting conversation, we’ll explore the science behind what makes us feel good—or not—and how everyday actions like a walk in the park, a chat with a friend, or yes, even a bite of chocolate literally shift the chemistry of our brains.

Smithsonian Associate Dr. Camilla Nord challenges old ideas. She dismantles the myth of the “mind-body divide,” shows us how mood and inflammation are intimately connected, and explains why there will never be a single magic pill for mental health—because there doesn’t need to be. Instead, she offers something more empowering: a new framework for understanding ourselves.

For our audience of vibrant adults over 60, this conversation is more than science—it’s a roadmap. A way to better understand what’s happening under the surface and to take meaningful action, now, to feel better, think clearer, and live longer—without the stigma.

So—what is a balanced brain? And how can you get one, and keep it, at any age?

Let’s find out.

Here’s my conversation with Smithsonian Associate Dr. Camilla Nord.

My thanks to Smithsonian Associate Dr. Camilla Nord who will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up, and the title of her presentation is The Balanced Brain: The Science of Mental Health. Please check out our show notes today for more details about Dr. Nord’s upcoming Inside Science Smithsonian Associates presentation. My thanks always to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support our show. My thanks to you our wonderful audience here on radio and podcast. Be well, be safe, and Let’s Talk About Better. The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series on radio and podcast. Thanks, everybody and we’ll see you next week.

The Day Washington Nearly Fell: Smithsonian Associate, Dr. Robert Watson on the Civil War’s Forgotten Gamble

The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series

Washington almost fell in 1864. 🇺🇸 Hear the untold story today. 🎙️ https://notold-better.com

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series—I'm Paul Vogelzang, and today’s episode takes us straight into the heart of history… a moment most Americans have never heard of… and one we came this close to never recovering from.

📖 Rebels at the Gates is the title of Smithsonian Associate Dr. Robert Watson’s thrilling new book, available at Apple Books for preorder. Smithsonian Associate Dr. Robert Watson will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up. Please check out our show notes today for more information about Smithsonian Associates. But we have Dr. Robert Watson today and he tells the story of the final year of the Civil War—when the Confederates launched a last, desperate, and nearly successful attempt to capture Washington, D.C., and quite possibly win the war on their terms.

Imagine it: Lincoln is in the White House. Ulysses S. Grant is laying siege to Petersburg. Washington’s defenses are stripped bare. And Confederate troops—starving, shoeless, but emboldened—are just five miles from the Capitol dome.

This isn’t fiction. This is real. And in July 1864, it nearly ended the American experiment.

Smithsonian Associate Dr. Robert Watson—historian, professor, author of more than 40 books, and passionate storyteller—joins us today to bring this forgotten crisis vividly to life. From President Lincoln refusing to leave the capital, to the crusty, hard-charging Confederate General Jubal Early, to the moment alcohol may have accidentally saved the United States… this story has everything.

We’ll talk about bold military gambits, political peril, and what it really means to lead in times of chaos.

So stay with us—this is history that matters, and it's never been more relevant.

Here now, my conversation with Robert Watson.

🎙️ I’m Paul Vogelzang, and this is The Not Old Better Show—Smithsonian Associates Interview Series.

Thanks for joining us today. My thanks to Smithsonian Associate Dr. Robert Watson. Smithsonian Associate Dr. Robert Watson will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up. Please check out our show notes today for more information about Smithsonian Associates. My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all their help with the show. My thanks to you, our wonderful audience here on radio and podcast. Be well, be safe and Let’s Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series on radio and podcast. Thanks everybody and we’ll see you next week.

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, the podcast for those who believe life gets better—and even sweeter—with age. I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang, and today we’re diving into the soul-stirring legacy of two musical giants whose voices, harmonies, and vision shaped the very sound of a generation: Curtis Mayfield and Jerry Butler.

If you grew up spinning 45s on your record player or gathered around the radio to hear those smooth, soaring harmonies, then you already know that Mayfield and Butler weren’t just voices—they were storytellers, activists, and pioneers of a sound that broke barriers. Together, they helped shape the golden age of soul music, and their influence continues to inspire generations.

But did you know that before the world knew them as soul legends, they were just two young men from Chicago’s Cabrini-Green projects, united by gospel music, ambition, and a dream of something bigger? Today, we’ll uncover the fascinating story of how Jerry Butler and Curtis Mayfield met, formed the Impressions, and created hits like the unforgettable “For Your Precious Love.” We’ll also explore why Jerry’s path ultimately led him to go solo—and how Curtis turned his heartbreak into a revolutionary career that brought soul music into the Civil Rights Movement.

Joining us today is returning guest Scott Shea, a writer and expert in music history, whose latest article brings these incredible stories to life. From Curtis Mayfield’s genius as a songwriter to Jerry Butler’s powerful, underrated baritone, we’ll reflect on their journey, their struggles, and their lasting impact on American music and culture.

This one’s for the music lovers, the memory keepers, and anyone who remembers the days when a song could soothe your soul and spark a revolution. So grab a cup of coffee or tea, sit back, and let’s celebrate the legacy of two legends who reminded us all to “Keep on Pushing.”

I’m Paul Vogelzang, and this is The Not Old Better Show. Let’s get started.

Enough is Enuf: Why Isn’t English Easier To Spell? Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry

THE NOT OLD BETTER SHOW, SMITHSONIAN ASSOCIATES INTERVIEW SERIES

📚 Ever wondered why English spelling makes no sense? 🤯 Why does G in George sound different from G in gorge? And why are we still spelling enough like that?!

Author Gabe Henry joins The Not Old Better Show to unravel 500 years of failed spelling reform. From Twain to texting, is change finally here? 🔡✨ Listen now! 🎧👇

🔗 https://apple.co/3FAbebT

Welcome to The Not Old Better Show, Smithsonian Associates Interview Series. I’m your host, Paul Vogelzang, and today, we’re diving into the wonderfully chaotic, utterly confusing, and downright hilarious world of English spelling. Why does the G in George sound different from the G in gorge? Why does C begin both case and cease? And seriously—why is enough spelled like that?

Our guest today, Smithsonian Associate and author Gabe Henry, has spent over a decade unraveling the twisted history of English spelling reform. Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up and the title of his presentation there is Enough is Enuf: Why Isn’t English Easier To Spell? Please check out our show notes today for more information about Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry at Smithsonian Associates. But we have Gabe Henry today to tell us a little about it all including his new book, avialable at Apple books, Enough is Enuf: Our Failed Attempts to Make English Easier to Spell, takes us through 500 years of determined—yet doomed—efforts to straighten out our language. From Mark Twain and Ben Franklin to C.S. Lewis and George Bernard Shaw, some of history’s greatest minds have fought to make English more logical…and lost.

But here’s the twist—what spelling reformers couldn’t do, technology just might. Thanks to texting, social media, and emojis, English may finally be simplifying itself. So, are we witnessing a long-overdue spelling revolution? Or is this just another chapter in the ongoing saga of linguistic chaos?

Gabe Henry is here to make sense of it all, with plenty of humor along the way. So grab a cup of coffee—or should that be k-o-f-e?—and let’s get into it.

Please welcome to the show, Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry.

Thanks to our wonderful guest, Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry for his generous time. Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry will be appearing at Smithsonian Associates coming up and the title of his presentation there is Enough is Enuf: Why Isn’t English Easier To Spell? Please check out our show notes today for more information about Smithsonian Associate Gabe Henry at Smithsonian Associates. My thanks to the Smithsonian team for all they do to support the show. My thanks to you, our wonderful Smithsonian Associates audience here on radio and podcast. Be well, be safe and Let’s Talk About Better. The Not Old Better Show. Thanks, everybody, and we’ll see you next week.